U.S. patent application number 11/564625 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-14 for power patch panel with guided mac capability.
This patent application is currently assigned to PANDUIT CORP.. Invention is credited to Ronald A. Nordin.
Application Number | 20070132503 11/564625 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37810299 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070132503 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nordin; Ronald A. |
June 14, 2007 |
POWER PATCH PANEL WITH GUIDED MAC CAPABILITY
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for incorporating guided
network cable Move/Add/Change (MAC) work order capability into a
power patch panel. MAC work orders may be controlled and monitored
using in-band signaling using, e.g., standard RJ-45 patch cords.
Cable detection is performed at a port level on a real-time basis.
Coordination of guided MAC operations may be performed by the patch
panel, independently, or in conjunction with, or under the control
of, a remote Network Management System. The patch panel may be in
either an interconnect or cross-connect configuration.
Inventors: |
Nordin; Ronald A.;
(Naperville, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PANDUIT CORP.
LEGAL DEPARTMENT - TP12
17301 SOUTH RIDGELAND AVENUE
TINLEY PARK
IL
60477
US
|
Assignee: |
PANDUIT CORP.
Tinley Park
IL
|
Family ID: |
37810299 |
Appl. No.: |
11/564625 |
Filed: |
November 29, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60742533 |
Dec 6, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
327/518 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04Q 1/136 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
327/518 |
International
Class: |
G05F 1/00 20060101
G05F001/00 |
Claims
1. A communication device comprising a port that contains: cable
interconnects configured to accept a cable; transformers configured
to terminate wire pairs of the cable; and a detection circuit
connected with the transformers and configured to monitor a
connection between the cable and the port using an in-band
connection monitoring technique.
2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the detection
circuit comprises a frequency dependent impedance and a resistor
connected with the impedance, the detection circuit configured to
provide a measurement of a voltage across one of the impedance or
the resistor.
3. The communication device of claim 2, wherein the detection
circuit further comprises: a signal source connected with the
impedance and configured to alter an impedance value of the
impedance, and an operational amplifier circuit having inputs
connected across the one of the impedance or the resistor.
4. The communication device of claim 3, wherein: the resistor and
the signal source are connected in series to form a series
combination, the series combination is connected in parallel with
the impedance, a first input of the operational amplifier circuit
is connected with a first node between the resistor and the signal
source, a second input of the operational amplifier circuit is
connected with a second node between the resistor and the
impedance, the second node is connected with one cable
interconnect, and a third node between the signal source and the
impedance is connected with another cable interconnect.
5. The communication device of claim 3, wherein an output of the
operational amplifier circuit is connected to an analysis circuit
configured to determine a current status of the port.
6. The communication device of claim 5, wherein the analysis
circuit comprises a memory configured to record an output value of
the operational amplifier circuit, the analysis circuit configured
to determine the current status of the port based on a comparison
of a currently measured output value of the operational amplifier
circuit with a previously stored output value of the operational
amplifier circuit.
7. The communication device of claim 5, wherein the analysis
circuit is configured to determine the current status of the port
based on a comparison of a currently measured output value of the
operational amplifier circuit with a predetermined threshold value
associated with a specific physical cable connection
configuration.
8. The communication device of claim 5, further comprising a patch
panel controller connected with the analysis circuit and configured
to request an update of the status of the port from the analysis
circuit.
9. The communication device of claim 5, wherein the analysis
circuit is configured to automatically periodically update the
status of the port.
10. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the detection
circuit has only passive elements.
11. The communication device of claim 10, wherein the detection
circuit is configured to provide a measurement of a
frequency-dependent voltage in response to signals applied by an
external source upon connection of a cable to at least one of the
cable interconnects.
12. A communication device comprising a port that comprises: cable
interconnects configured to accept a cable; and a common mode
detection circuit configured to monitor a connection between the
cable and the port at the cable interconnects using an in-band
connection monitoring technique, the detection circuit having an
analysis circuit configured to determine a current status of the
port.
13. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the detection
circuit includes a capacitive coupling disposed between the cable
interconnects and a resistor connected with the capacitive
coupling, the analysis circuit configured to determine the current
status of the port using a voltage measured across one of the
resistor or the capacitive coupling.
14. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the detection
circuit further comprises an operational amplifier circuit having
inputs connected across the one of the resistor or the capacitive
coupling, an output of the operational amplifier circuit connected
to the analysis circuit.
15. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the analysis
circuit has a memory configured to record an output value of the
operational amplifier circuit, the analysis circuit configured to
determine the current status of the port based on a comparison of a
currently measured output of the operational amplifier circuit with
a previously stored output of the operational amplifier
circuit.
16. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the analysis
circuit is configured to determine the current status of the port
based on a comparison of a currently measured output of the
operational amplifier circuit with a predetermined threshold value
associated with a specific physical cable connection
configuration.
17. The communication device of claim 12, further comprising a
patch panel controller connected with the analysis circuit and
configured to request an update of the status of the port from the
analysis circuit.
18. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the analysis
circuit is configured to automatically periodically update the
status of the port.
19. The communication device of claim 13, further comprising a
signal source connected with the capacitive coupling, the signal
source operative to change an impedance of the capacitive
coupling.
20. The communication device of claim 19, wherein the analysis
circuit is configured to control the signal source.
21. A communication system comprising: a patch panel containing a
port and an intelligent port controller, the port having a cable
interconnect and a detection circuit, the detection circuit
including a frequency dependent impedance and a frequency
independent impedance connected with the frequency dependent
impedance; a communication device; a cable adapted to connect to
the cable interconnect of the patch panel to form a connection
between the patch panel and the communication device; a patch panel
controller connected with the patch panel; a Network Management
System (NMS); and a network management port module that supports
cable connectivity between the patch panel and the NMS via a
network connection, the patch panel controller configured to report
changes in cable connectivity between the patch panel and the
communication device to the NMS via the network management port
module, wherein the detection circuit is configured to monitor the
connection using an in-band connection monitoring technique that
utilizes a voltage measured across one of the frequency dependent
impedance or the frequency independent impedance, and the
intelligent port controller configured to monitor the detection
circuit and to report the results to the patch panel
controller.
22. The communication system of claim 21, wherein the detection
circuit further comprises an operational amplifier circuit having
inputs connected across the one of the frequency dependent
impedance or the frequency independent impedance, an output of the
operational amplifier circuit connected to the intelligent port
controller.
23. The communication device of claim 22, wherein the intelligent
port controller is configured to determine a current status of the
port based on a comparison of a currently measured output of the
operational amplifier circuit with at least one of: a previously
stored output of the operational amplifier circuit or a
predetermined threshold value associated with a specific physical
cable connection configuration.
24. The communication device of claim 21, further comprising a
signal source connected with the frequency dependent impedance, the
signal source operative to change an impedance of the frequency
dependent impedance.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of priority to
U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/742,533, filed Dec.
6, 2005, entitled "Power Patch Panel With Guided MAC Capability,"
which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention pertains to network cable
management.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Communications networks are growing in number and
complexity. Human error associated with the implementation and
maintenance of physical cable connections between network
communication equipment can result in significant negative impact
to a network. Such negative impact can be avoided through improved
control and verification of network cable Move/Add/Change orders
implemented by network technicians.
SUMMARY
[0006] A method and apparatus are described that provides automated
guidance to technicians assigned the task of implementing network
cable Move/Add/Change (MAC) work orders. The approach allows
implementation of MAC work orders implemented by technical
personnel to be guided and verified using in-band (e.g. Ethernet,
etc.) signaling over standard network cables (e.g., Cat-5, etc.)
rather than out-of-band techniques that require the use of network
cables with additional cable conductors. For example, the described
guided MAC capability may be used to guide and verify port
connections established using standard RJ45 patch cords. The
described approach is compatible with interconnect and/or
cross-connect applications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to
the attached drawings, in which like reference numerals designate
like components.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary port that
supports cable connection monitoring using in-band connection
monitoring techniques.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary detection
circuit that may be used to detect the presence, or absence, of a
physical cable connection to the exemplary port shown in FIG.
1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary power patch
panel that supports guided MAC operations and is capable of
monitoring the presence, or absence, of a physical cable connection
to a port using in-band connection monitoring techniques.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary power patch
panel that supports guided MAC operations and is capable of
monitoring the presence, or absence, of a physical cable connection
to a port using in-band connection monitoring techniques and
Power-Over-Ethernet (POE) based detection techniques.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0012] Challenges associated with incorporating guided
Move/Add/Change (MAC) capabilities into a communication device
include: 1) indicating, to a technician assigned to implement a MAC
work order, which ports to disconnect and/or connect; 2)
determining when a network cable or patch cord is plugged into a
port; 3) verifying that the MAC work order has been properly
executed; and 4) relaying corrective action to the technician in
the event of an incorrectly implemented MAC work order.
Port Level MAC Visual Guides-
[0013] In interconnect applications, one end of a patch cord may
terminate at a communication switch port and a second end of the
patch cord may terminate at a patch panel port. Several
alternatives may be used to indicate to a technician, who has been
assigned to execute a MAC work order, which ports to connect and/or
disconnect.
[0014] On the power patch panel side of the network cable
connection, lights associated with, or built into, a patch panel
port may be illuminated to instruct a technician whether to connect
or disconnect a cable from the illuminated patch panel port.
However, difficulty may arise with respect to identifying the
corresponding port on the communication switch side. Therefore a
power patch panel that supports guided MAC would preferably be
compatible with a wide range of communication switch, port-level
indicator techniques, including: [0015] 1. MAC Port Indicator
Appliques--MAC port indicator appliques are port overlays (e.g., a
flex circuit attached with adhesive) that attach over, or proximate
to, a port on a communication switch, or other network device, that
supports MAC LED, LCD, or other port indicators. [0016] 2. MAC
Communication Interface--A MAC communication interface may allow an
external device, such as a power patch panel or Network Management
System, to communicate with a switch or other network device in
order to activate the port LED or LCD integrated within the network
device in support of MAC operations. [0017] 3. External Display
Interface--An external display interface (e.g., a Network
Management System MAC display on a portable computer) may allow a
technician to view a schematic or logical representation of a
communication device and port affected by a MAC work order.
[0018] In an exemplary power patch panel embodiment that supports
guided MAC capabilities between the power patch panel and a network
device equipped with a MAC port indicator appliques, the power
patch panel may support a communication interface (e.g., an
Ethernet connection) to the applique that allows the power patch
panel to activate and/or deactivate the indicators on the applique
in accordance with MAC work orders orchestrated by the power patch
panel. Alternatively, the applique may be configured with a simple
latching multiplexor that interconnects to the LEDs of the applique
and that supports a direct communication interface to the power
patch panel. Such a direct communication interface between the
power patch panel and the applique may support communication
between the power patch panel and the applique in any manner. For
example, the power patch panel and the applique may communicate
over unused Ethernet pairs within a standard Ethernet cable, over
additional conductors included in a non-standard cable (e.g., a
cable with five wire pairs and a 10-pin connector), or a low
frequency signal, e.g., an AC signal, superimposed over the signals
conducted through the conductors.
[0019] In an exemplary patch panel embodiment that supports guided
MAC capabilities between the power patch panel and a network device
equipped with a MAC communication interface, the power patch panel
may support the communication interface (e.g., an Ethernet
connection) of the network device that allows the power patch panel
to activate and/or deactivate port-level indicators integrated
within the device in accordance with MAC work orders orchestrated
via the power patch panel. Such an approach may require development
and widespread adoption of a standard MAC interface, and/or
coordination with specific vendors to persuade them to adopt/adapt
the standard interface to operate with their communication device,
or coordination with specific vendors to develop a physical
connection interface and logical control interface that may support
such guided MAC operations.
[0020] In an exemplary patch panel embodiment that supports guided
MAC capabilities between the power patch panel and a network device
using an external display, the power patch panel may support a
communication interface (e.g., an Ethernet connection) to an
external display that activates visual indicators on the display to
identify communication equipment and specific ports associated with
a MAC work order. Alternatively, the power patch panel may
communicate MAC port information via a network connection to a
Network Management System that communicates the updated MAC
information to the external display.
Physical Patch Cord Detection Techniclues-
[0021] Detecting the physical connection of a patch cord to a port
(e.g., a port within the power patch panel, a port on an applique,
or a port on another network device) may include any of the
following techniques, alone or in any combination: [0022] 1.
Detecting the presence of a standard or vendor proprietary Power
over Ethernet (POE) device using POE detection techniques. For
example, the power patch panel may initiate detection of a device
using standard or vendor proprietary POE device detection
techniques to determine whether a POE device is connected to the
opposite end of a cable. If a POE device is detected, the power
patch panel may determine that the port is occupied. To be
successful, however, such an approach requires that both ends of
the cable be connected and that the connected port, or device,
support a POE detection technique. [0023] 2. Detecting the
presence, or absence, of a cable using physical cable detection
techniques such as mechanical detents, magnetic detents, optical
detectors, and/or other mechanical/physical techniques that have
been integrated, in advance, into the design of the communication
port or applique. [0024] 3. Detecting a network cable's
magnetic/capacitive coupling. Such an approach may use enhanced
common mode detection techniques to detect a coupling between the
two pairs at a given optimum frequency (e.g., at 100 MHz).
[0025] As described in greater detail below, a power patch panel
design may integrate any, or any combination, of the above
techniques to implement a guided MAC power patch panel system. For
example, a power patch panel that supports guided MAC operations
may support guided MAC work order implementation and verification
of cable connections between the power patch panel and a wide range
of network devices. For example, the power patch panel may
communicate with one or more network devices equipped with MAC port
indicator appliques, one or more network devices that support an
integrated MAC communication interface and/or network devices that
support communication either directly, or via a Network Management
System, with a wide variety of external display devices.
[0026] Further, as described in greater detail below, the described
power patch panel may integrate any, or any combination, of the
above techniques to detect the presence, or absence, of cable
connections on any or all of the power patch panel ports. For
example, for any individual port, a power patch panel may use any
combination of POE detection techniques, physical detection
techniques, and/or magnetic or capacitive coupling techniques, as
described above.
[0027] Any type of visual indicator may be used by the power patch
panel and/or the network devices and/or applique device with which
the power patch panel communicates in support of guided MAC
operations. For example, a power patch panel may activate LEDs
associated with a port on the power patch panel or any other device
with which the power patch panel coordinates guided MAC operations.
Assuming that three different colored LEDs are associated with each
port, and assuming that each LED supports a range of flash rates, a
power patch panel may control the LEDs to identify a port, as well
as to convey an instruction code to the technician. For example,
instructions such as "disconnect" or "connect," as well as a status
code such as "incorrect" or "correct," may be provided to a
technician using different combinations of colored lights and flash
rates.
[0028] In a simplex system, the power patch panel may illuminate
the LEDs associated with a port on the power patch panel or other
network device for a period of time and assume, without the use of
detection techniques, that the patch cord was either inserted or
removed in accordance with the LED code displayed. Assuming that
two power patch panels that support such a simplex guided MAC
capability are used in a cross-connect configuration, both ports
associated with a MAC work order may be displayed to the technician
for a period of time. After this period of time, the power patch
panel(s) may initiate a network scan and map out the interconnect
to verify that the MAC work order has been implemented correctly.
Should the network scan indicate that the MAC work order was
implemented improperly, the power patch panel may indicate
corrective action, or re-display the original MAC work order, via
the LEDs.
[0029] Connection scanning and methods for guiding MAC operations,
as described above, may be coordinated by logic and control
software included within the power patch panel. If guided MAC
operations are coordinated by the power patch panel directly (e.g.,
via an integrated power patch panel controller), the power patch
panel controller may include software or firmware based logic that
supports the variety of physical interfaces and logical interfaces
described above.
[0030] Alternatively, the power patch panel may communicate with a
Network Management System that has connectivity to the respective
devices associated with the MAC work order and request that the
Network Management System verify that the correct ports have been
connected or disconnected in accordance with the MAC work order.
Based upon the results returned by the Network Management System,
the power patch panel may display a results message to the
technician via the respective port level indicators to indicate
that the change has been implemented correctly or incorrectly, or
to indicate corrective measures (such as displaying a disconnect
message on a port into which a cable has been incorrectly
inserted).
[0031] In some embodiments, guided MAC operations may be controlled
by logic and controls implemented by a Network Management System.
In such an embodiment, the power patch panel may support execution
of guided MAC instructions received from the Network Management
System by controlling port level visual indicators (as described
above) and reporting port level physical cable
connection/disconnect information. If guided MAC operations are
controlled by a Network Management System, physical and logical
interfaces to each of the respective LED displays (e.g., appliques
with integrated port LEDs, etc.) may be controlled by the Network
Management System and related network infrastructure.
[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary port that
supports physical connection monitoring using in-band connection
monitoring techniques. As shown in FIG. 1, exemplary port 100 may
include a first cable interconnect 102 and a second cable
interconnect 104. Cable interconnect 102 and cable interconnect 104
each represent a physical interface at which one cable (e.g.,
CAT-5, unshielded twisted pair, etc.) may attach to port 100.
[0033] As depicted in FIG. 1, exemplary port 100 may be configured
to support a connection between two eight-conductor (i.e., four
wire pair) cables. In such an embodiment, cable interconnects 102
and 104 each provide a physical connection point for each of the
four wire pairs associated with each of the cables connected to
port 100. However, exemplary port 100 and exemplary cable
interconnects 102 and 104 may be configured to support a cable with
any number of conductors, and are not limited to providing
connectivity between two four-pair conductor cables as shown in
FIG. 1.
[0034] As further depicted in FIG. 1, an electrical signal path may
be established between corresponding wire pairs associated with
each of the respective cables terminated at cable interconnects 102
and 104 by transformers 106A-D, respectively. For example, in FIG.
1, transformer 106A provides electrical signal connectivity between
conductors 1 and 2 (i.e., wire pair #1) in the cables that
terminate at cable interconnect 102 and 104, respectively.
Similarly, transformer 106B provides electrical signal connectivity
between conductors 3 and 6 (i.e., wire pair #2); transformer 106C
provides electrical signal connectivity between conductors 4 and 5
(i.e., wire pair #3); and, transformer 106D provides electrical
signal connectivity between conductors 7 and 8 (i.e., wire pair
#4). Transformers 106A-D relay signals between the respective
conductor pairs terminated at each of cable interconnects 102 and
104, while filtering out low frequency signals.
[0035] Exemplary port 100 may include cable detection circuitry 116
to provide cable detection capability based upon a variety of cable
detection techniques. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, node 102 of
detection circuit 116 may be attached to a center tap 108 of a coil
110 of wire-pair transformer 106C. Further node 104 of detection
circuit 116 may be connected to a center tap 112 of a coil 114 of
wire-pair transformer 106D. Such a placement of detection circuitry
within port 100 is exemplary only. Depending upon the nature of the
detection circuit, detection circuitry may be placed at other
locations within port 100, as described below with respect to FIG.
4.
[0036] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary cable
detection circuit 200 that may be used to support cable connection
monitoring at a port (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1 at 116) using
in-band connection monitoring techniques. As shown in FIG. 2,
exemplary cable detection circuit 200 may include a capacitive
coupling 206 (or other frequency dependent impedance) in parallel
with a resistor 208 and a signal source 210. As further shown in
FIG. 2, an operational amplifier circuit 214 may be placed in
parallel with resistor 208, whereas node 202 and node 212 (i.e.,
between resistor 208 and signal source 210) serve as inputs to
operational amplifier circuit 214. Output of operational amplifier
circuit 214 may be passed to analysis circuit or processor 216.
[0037] In operation, detection circuit 200 may be connected to a
port as shown at 116 in FIG. 1. For example, node 202 of detection
circuit 200 (FIG. 2) may connect to node 102 in FIG. 1, and node
204 of detection circuit 200 may connect to node 104 in FIG. 1.
Configured in such a manner, the circuit described in FIG. 2 may
detect changes in voltage across capacitive coupling 206, and
hence, resistor 208, in response to changes in the resistive load
placed across nodes 202 and 204 (i.e., in response to changes in
the resistive load between node 102 and node 104 shown in FIG.
1).
[0038] For example, when no cable is attached to cable interconnect
102 in a port monitored by the exemplary circuit shown in FIG. 2,
the voltage across resistor 208 in response to a signal output by
AC signal source 210 will result in a recordable voltage value.
Assuming that signal source 210 generates a signal at 100 MHz and
the capacitive coupling between nodes 202 and 204 is 10 pF, or 10
nH, respectively, the magnitude of impedance across capacitive
coupling 206 may be approximately 160 ohms and 6 ohms,
respectively. Such an impedance will result in a voltage across
resistor 208, the magnitude of which may be determined by
operational amplifier circuit 214 and relayed to analysis
circuit/processor 216 for storage.
[0039] Upon connection of a cable to an exemplary port 100
monitored by the exemplary circuit shown in FIG. 2, a resistive
load will be introduced between nodes 202 and node 204. That
resistive load represents the capacitive coupling between the wire
pairs to which each of nodes 202 and 204 are connected,
respectively. Based upon the voltage divider rule, the voltage
across resistor 208 will necessarily change in response to a change
in the resistive load placed across nodes 202 and 204. This change
in voltage may be detectable by operational amplifier circuit 214,
the output of which may be reported to analysis circuit/processor
216. Based upon a comparison of previously stored values, analysis
circuit/processor 216 may determine whether a cable has been
connected to, or disconnected from, the port. Further, because the
resistive load across capacitive coupling 206 may vary in response
to a cable being connected to, or disconnected from, cable
interconnect 102, cable interconnect 104, or both, a single circuit
may be used to monitor the connection status of both cable
interconnects.
[0040] A port, as shown in FIG. 1, that is equipped with common
mode cable detection circuitry as shown in FIG. 2 may be used to
detect changes in connectivity at both cable interconnect 102 and
cable interconnect 104 based upon common mode based analysis
techniques. A voltage across resistor 208 may change in response to
a change in the resistive load placed upon capacitive coupling 206.
Depending upon the frequency of the signal applied to detection
circuit 200, the voltage across resistor 208 may change in response
to connection or disconnection of a cable at cable interconnect 102
as well as a cable disconnect or disconnect at cable interconnect
104. For example, assuming a signal of 100 MHz is used in detection
circuit 200, analysis circuit/processor 216 may periodically
initiate AC signal source 210 and take readings of the output
generated by operational amplifier circuit 214. The output of
operational amplifier circuit 214 may be recorded for future use by
analysis circuit/processor 216 and/or may be used to determine a
current status of the connection based, for example, on a
comparison of the currently measured value with one or more
previously stored values.
[0041] Operational amplifier circuit 214, as depicted in FIG. 2,
may be configured to notify the analysis circuit/processor 216 upon
detecting a change of the capacitive coupling within the port. In
this manner, operational amplifier circuit 214 supports the
real-time monitoring of cable connectivity. Upon receipt of the new
value from operational amplifier circuit 214, analysis
circuit/processor 216 may determine the nature of the change that
has occurred based upon a comparison of the newly received value
with previously recorded values and/or predetermined threshold
values that are associated with specific physical cable connection
configurations.
[0042] FIG. 3 is an exemplary embodiment of a power patch panel
capable of monitoring the presence or absence of physical cables
connected to the respective ports of the power patch panel using
in-band connection monitoring techniques. As shown in FIG. 3, power
patch panel 300 may include exemplary port 100 and may include
exemplary common mode cable detection circuitry 200 as described
above with respect to FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, analysis circuit/processor
216 shown in FIG. 2 has been replaced with intelligent port
controller 302. In such a configuration, intelligent port 301 is
capable of monitoring and detecting changes in cable connectivity,
as described above. For example, by initiating signal source 210,
intelligent port controller 302 may record a measured voltage value
across resistor 208. By storing values and comparing subsequent
voltage readings in response to periodic updates or in response to
an update request from patch panel controller 304, intelligent port
controller 302 may determine whether a change in connectivity has
occurred, and based upon the value detected, may determine the
nature of the change in cable connectivity to the port. This
information may be reported to patch panel controller 304 and may
be reported by patch panel controller 304 to Network Management
System 308 via a network management port module 306 that supports
connectivity between the power patch panel 300 and a remote Network
Management System 308 via a network connection.
[0043] Although only a single exemplary power patch panel port 301
is represented in FIG. 3, power patch panel 300 may include any
number of ports 301. Each port may be equipped with cable
connectivity detection capabilities as described above.
[0044] FIG. 4 presents a second exemplary power patch panel
embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, physical cable connectivity
detection in the port is not limited to common mode detection
techniques (i.e., the use of a common mode detection circuit as
described, above, with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3). As described
above, any number of physical cable detection techniques may be
used. For example, physical cable detection techniques may include
the use of standard or proprietary POE detection techniques,
physical detection techniques such as mechanical detents, magnetic
detents, optical detectors or other mechanical/physical techniques
and/or the common mode of detection techniques described above with
respect to FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0045] For example, FIG. 4 shows a representative circuit 402 that
may be used to detect a connection to a device that supports POE
using standard POE detection techniques. Intelligent port
controller 302 may monitor any number of circuits used to support
the variety of physical cable detection techniques as described
above, and may report the results to patch panel controller 304.
Patch panel controller 304 may then report changes in cable
connectivity to a Network Management System via network management
port module 306.
[0046] It will be appreciated that the exemplary embodiments
described above and illustrated in the drawings represent only a
few of the many ways of implementing a power patch panel according
to the present invention for use in managing MAC operations. The
present invention is not limited to use within any specific network
cable infrastructure configuration, but may be applied to any
deployed network infrastructure that includes use of the described
power patch panel.
[0047] The power patch panel may be implemented in any number of
hardware and software modules and is not limited to any specific
hardware/software module architecture. Each power patch panel
module may be implemented in any number of ways and is not limited
in implementation to execute process flows precisely as described
above.
[0048] It is to be understood that various functions of the power
patch panel methods and apparatus may be distributed in any manner
among any quantity (e.g., one or more) of hardware and/or software
modules or units, computer or processing systems or circuitry.
[0049] A power patch panel that supports guided MAC operations may
support patching of any type of network cabling, including but not
limited to copper and/or optical fiber cabling. Port connections on
the face plate of a power patch panel and/or a power patch panel
network connection port may support any type of cable and cable
connector, including but not limited to RJ-45-based connectors and
optical fiber connectors. Port connections on the rear plate of a
power patch panel may support any type of cable and cable
connector, including but not limited to punch-down ports, RJ-45
ports, optical fiber connections, etc.
[0050] A power patch panel device may connect to a network through
any type of network connection, either directly or via an indirect,
or shared, connection.
[0051] Network Management System processes associated with the
power patch panel patch guided MAC capability may be integrated
within a stand-alone system or may execute separately and be
coupled to any number of devices, workstation computers, server
computers or data storage devices via any communication medium
(e.g., network, modem, direct connection, etc.). The Network
Management System processes associated with the power patch panel
guided MAC capability can be implemented by any quantity of devices
and/or any quantity of personal or other type of computers or
processing systems (e.g., IBM-compatible, Apple, Macintosh, laptop,
palm pilot, microprocessor, etc.). The computer system may include
any commercially available operating system (e.g., Windows, OS/2,
Unix, Linux, DOS, etc.), any commercially available and/or custom
software (e.g., communication software, traffic analysis software,
etc.) and any types of input/output devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse,
probes, I/O port, etc.).
[0052] Control software, or firmware, for the power patch panel and
Network Management System software associated with the power patch
panel guided MAC capability may be implemented in any desired
computer language, and may be developed by one of ordinary skill in
the computer and/or programming arts based on the functional
description contained herein and the flow charts illustrated in the
drawings. For example, in one exemplary embodiment the power patch
panel guided MAC capability may be written using the C++
programming language. However, the present invention is not limited
to being implemented in any specific programming language. The
various modules and data sets may be stored in any quantity or
types of file, data or database structures. Moreover, the software
associated with the power patch panel guided MAC capability may be
distributed via any suitable medium (e.g., stored on devices such
as CD-ROM and diskette, downloaded from the Internet or other
network (e.g., via packets and/or carrier signals), downloaded from
a bulletin board (e.g., via carrier signals), or other conventional
distribution mechanisms).
[0053] The format and structure of internal information structures
used to hold intermediate information in support of the power patch
panel guided MAC capability, and network cable management with
respect to devices other than the power patch panel, may include
any and all structures and fields and are not limited to files,
arrays, matrices, status and control booleans/variables.
[0054] The Network Management System used to support the power
patch panel guided MAC capability software may be installed and
executed on a computer system in any conventional or other manner
(e.g., an install program, copying files, entering an execute
command, etc.). The functions associated with the Network
Management System may be performed on any quantity of computers or
other processing systems. Further, the specific functions may be
assigned to one or more of the computer systems in any desired
fashion.
[0055] The power patch panel guided MAC capability may accommodate
any quantity and any type of data set files and/or databases or
other structures containing stored data sets, measured data sets
and/or residual data sets in any desired format (e.g., ASCII, plain
text, any word processor or other application format, etc.).
[0056] Power patch panel guided MAC capability output (e.g., guided
MAC instructions and/or secondary reports) may be presented to the
user (e.g., from the power patch panel, from via the Network
Management System, etc.) in any manner using alphanumeric and/or
visual presentation formats. Power patch panel MAC connection data
may be presented in either alphanumeric or visual form and can be
processed by the power patch panel and/or Network Management System
in any manner and/or using any number of threshold values and/or
rule sets.
[0057] Further, any references herein to software performing
various functions generally refer to computer systems or processors
performing those functions under software control. The computer
system may alternatively be implemented by hardware or other
processing circuitry. The various functions of the power patch
panel guided MAC capability may be distributed in any manner among
any quantity (e.g., one or more) of hardware and/or software
modules or units, computers or processing systems or circuitry. The
computer or processing systems may be disposed locally or remotely
of each other and communicate via any suitable communication medium
(e.g., LAN, WAN, Intranet, Internet, hardwire, modem connection,
wireless, etc.). The software and/or processes described above may
be modified in any manner that accomplishes the functions described
herein.
[0058] Signal source 210 in exemplary detection circuit 200, as
described with respect to FIGS. 2-4, above, may be optional. For
example, detection circuit 200 may be passive in nature and detect
changes in voltage across resistor 208 in response to signals
applied by external sources upon connection of a cable to one of
either cable interconnect 102 and/or cable interconnect 104.
However, in order to provide analysis circuit/processor 216 with
the ability to proactively (i.e., at it's own initiative) generate
and record baseline and subsequent voltage readings in support of
cable detection operations, inclusion of signal source 210, which
may be controlled by analysis circuit/processor 216, is
preferred.
[0059] Although cable interconnect 102 in FIG. 1 is indicated as
being connected by a cable to a switch and cable interconnect 104
is indicated in FIG. 1 as being connected to end user equipment,
such designations are exemplary only. Cable interconnects 102 and
104, as described above, may be configured to support any type of
cable interconnect as well as any type of cable terminator (e.g.,
RJ-45, punch down block, etc.). Further, the cable supported by the
respective cable interconnects may be connected to any type of
network device (e.g., switch, communication switch, hub,
cross-connect patch panel, end-user equipment, etc.).
[0060] From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that
a power patch panel and method of managing MAC operations using a
power patch panel are disclosed. The described approach is
compatible with use of the power patch panel in either an
interconnect, or a cross-connect configuration.
[0061] While a power patch panel and method of managing cable MAC
operations are disclosed, any modifications, variations and changes
within the skill of one of ordinary skill in the art fall within
the scope of the present invention. Although specific terms are
employed herein, they are used in their ordinary and accustomed
manner only, unless expressly defined differently herein, and not
for purposes of limitation.
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